Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators

Adequacy of the number of personnel at rail border crossing points (BCPs) and inland clearance stations to cope with the freight volumes involved. Staff categories include Customs, border guards/police, Health and Safety Executive, State Veterinary Office, State Plant Health Protection Agency, Public Health Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, National Revenue Services, Vehicle and Operators Services Agency, and Department of Transport.

Availability and opening hours of joint controls facilities at rail border crossing points (BCPs) open for international goods traffic. It concerns facilities for domestic controls as well as joint controls with adjoining countries. In terms of opening hours, Article 6 of the Annex 8 to the Harmonization Convention sets out 24 hours a day as a minimum requirement.

Harmonization of international standards for minimum useful siding length on main international lines for goods trains. In the Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC), this has been set at 750 m and in Arab Mashreq 500 m.

The extent to which control procedures are undertaken at inland clearance stations away from the border to promote efficient movements at border crossing points (BCPs). The control procedures are involving medico-sanitary inspection, controls of compliance with technical standards, quality controls, train inspections and other as applicable. The adoption of customs risk management system will get additional points as risk management procedures expedite the clearance of goods.

The extent to which national border agencies (such as Health and Safety Authorities, Treasury, and Food and Drug Administration) delegate their control activities to other border agencies such as Customs authorities, in accordance with a cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding. By implementing a delegation mechanism, duplication and overlapping activities, and conflicting instructions and requirements can be reduced.

The extent to which border agencies from both sides of the border crossing point (BCP) coordinate with each other or delegate the control procedures to each other at a designated single common border post/station, in accordance with a bilateral agreement or memorandum of understanding). Implementing such a coordination and delegation mechanism will increase the border crossing efficiency.

The average border processing time (in minutes) needed by a train, calculated by summing the stop time of all trains divided by the number of trains crossing the border per day. The survey should capture the stop time by time of day (peak and off-peak) and day of week.    

The proportion of bulk to non-bulk export rail cargo from the country. This indicator shows how diverse the rail traffic is, in order to promote non-bulk goods on railways. 

The empty running percentage of railway traffic returning to the country. This indicator measures cooperation and coordination with neighbouring countries to reduce empty running. 

The average border clearance time (in minutes) needed by a train, when physical inspections are involved. It is calculated by summing the clearance time of all inspected trains divided by the number of inspected trains. Time taken into consideration is the time from entering the border post in one territory to leaving it in the other country. The survey should capture the clearance time by time of day (peak and off-peak) and day of week.        

The average border clearance time (in minutes) needed by a train, when no physical inspections are involved. It is calculated by summing the clearance time of all surveyed trains divided by the number of surveyed trains. Time taken into consideration is the time from entering the border post in one territory to leaving it in the other country. The survey should capture the clearance time by time of day (peak and off-peak) and day of week.                  

The average queuing time (in minutes) for trains at border stations. Time taken into consideration starts when a train arrives at the rail yard and ends when the clearance process starts. The survey should capture queuing time by time of day (peak and off-peak) and day of week.   

The average customs operation cost per Twenty Equipment Unit (TEU) associated with compliance with customs regulations and border crossing procedures in the country relative to the average cost in the region. The involved costs include loading/unloading of shipment at border crossing points and inspection charges.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.

The average customs operation cost for dry bulk cargo per ton associated with compliance with customs regulations and border crossing procedures in the country relative to the average cost in the region. The involved costs are, among others, loading/unloading of shipment at border crossing points and inspection charges. 
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.

The average customs operation cost for liquid bulk cargo per ton associated with compliance with customs regulations and border crossing procedures in the country relative to the average cost in the region. The involved costs are, among others, loading/unloading of shipment at BCPs and inspection charges. 
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.

Ratio of the total length of main international railway lines (km) to the total rail network in the country. In Europe, these concern the class-A lines of E-railway network classification listed in Annex I of the European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC). In Mashreq region, these are listed in Annex I of the Agreement on International Railways in the Arab Mashreq.

Ratio of the total length of supplementary international railway lines (km) to the total rail network in the country. 
In Europe, these lines concern the class-B lines of E-railway network classification listed in Annex I of the AGC.

The number of international railway corridors passing through the country.

The average commercial speed of the majority of the international railway lines along the national segment, which is equal to the distance divided by the journey time.

Admission requirements for locomotives and powered trains, in terms of the technical condition, based on international/regional/subregional regime.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.

Admission requirements for train wagons and passenger carriages, in terms of the technical condition, based on international/regional/subregional regime.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.

Level of harmonization of the contract of carriage requirements as per internationally and/or regionally agreed arrangements.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.
- The maximum score of this indicator is 8 points because currently there are no internationally agreed arrangements yet. 10 points are reserved when such agreements become available in the future.

Degree of recognition of license for train drivers.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- The maximum score of this indicator is 8 points because currently there are no internationally agreed arrangements yet. 10 points are reserved when such agreements become available in the future.

The extent to which the track gauge of the international rail network in the country adheres to the regional/global technical standards.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.

The extent to which the loading gauge of the international rail network in the country adheres to the regional/global technical standards.
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.

TThe most widely used railway signalling system on the international railway network in the country.

The number of foreign countries whose rolling stocks are allowed to enter the country.

Degree of harmonization of legal interoperability by being member of international railway conventions to comprehensively address the legal issues of international rail transport across the entire continent.

Degree of access to third party operators to operate on the country’s railway network. Third party operators are railway operators other than the main national operator

Ratio of the freight ton kilometres performed with rail transport to the total ton kilometres involved in international journeys per year.

The share of containerization is defined as the gross weight of containerized cargo divided by the total gross weight of non-bulk cargo by rail.  Oil, coal, grain, bulk, cement, etc, are excluded.   

The minimum handling time of consignments in terminals, defined as the period from the latest time of acceptance of goods to the departure of trains, and from the arrival of trains to the availability of wagons ready for the unloading of loading units.

The minimum waiting time for road vehicles, defined as the waiting time for road vehicles to deliver or collect loading units at rail terminals.

Degree of implementation of internationally, regionally, subregionally or bilaterally harmonized interconnected e-solutions for transport: electronic CIM/SMGS and e-Single Window system for customs and border procedures.
Notes:
- CIM : Uniform rules concerning the contract of international carriage of goods by rail
-   SMGS:  Agreement on International Freight Traffic by Rail 
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.

Degree of application of advance electronic cargo information for pre-clearance purposes.

Availability of detection equipment, scanning and non-intrusive inspection technologies including scanners for cargo, technology for detection of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials, and e-Seal, at border crossing points (BCPs).

The existence of a coordinated timetabling process. 
Notes:
- “Region” should be defined as a group of countries that are engaged in economic cooperation such as, for example, the Southern African Development Community.  
- “Subregion” should be defined as a group of adjoining countries. In the case of Georgia for example, subregion should cover Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. A country may exclude one of several adjoining countries in its assessment when harmonization and integration with those adjoining countries are not applicable due to major barriers such as political tension and border closures.